Disasters

09.01.11

Floodwaters Begin to Recede in Northeast

Mary Altaffer / AP Photo

Floodwaters have finally begun to recede in the Northeast, leaving behind a wake of destruction that is likely to make Hurricane Irene one of the costliest storms in U.S. history. National Guard helicopters continue, however, to fly supplies into Vermont towns that have been cut off by the flooding. On Sunday, President Obama visits Paterson, N.J., where flooding forced hundreds of evacuations. Estimates put the cost of the storm at about $7 billion—way more than the cost of the previous two hurricanes to hit the Northeast, Bob and Gloria, which cost $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion in today’s dollars, respectively.